Topic: Can we ever stop terrorism?

Our Stance: Terrorism can never be stopped

Opening Statement: Through our research, we have found that terrorism can not be stopped,
ever. Terrorism is a widespread problem.
Support Information: Facts/Statistics
● Ethan: Terrorism is an ideology, ideas can’t be stopped from being spread/thought
about. Throughout history, we see the rise and fall of ideas and beliefs. Often the groups
that share these ideas can be stopped, but the idea is an ever flowing motive that will be
adopted by groups from the past, present, and future.
● Terrorism is relatively rare, limited ability for statistical analysis and conclusions
● Bethany: According to ourworldindata.org terrorist attacks increased from 1973 to 1992
then decreased until 2004 where attacks skyrocketed until 2014. Since 2014, attacks
have decreased, but the number of attacks has still been higher than any time prior to
2013
● Brandon: It’s Impossible to track down how, when, and where terror attacks will be,
especially lone wolf terrorists, who are not a part of any certain group, and are usually
not expected to cause harm.
● Dez: World peace is the only way to stop terrorism and its an impossible task,because
people won’t always agree with each other.
● Assigning responsibility is tough, data from GTD ( global terrorism database) shows that
no group can be held responsible for nearly 60% of the thousands of attacks since 1970,
this means there are so many different groups it is impossible to stop them all
● Isaac: Terrorist groups are diverse and have different tactics which makes it harder to
combat them
● Brandon: Terror attacks happen all over the world, it is impossible to stop every attack
in every country
● Austin: Terrorism is just a weapon in an argument. “It’s 10% crime, 10% news of the
crime, and 80% exaggeration”
● Definition of extremism is so fluid security services are drowning in cases, even known
suspects can not be punished without the right evidence
● Every person has their own opinion on things and some people feel the need to blow
things up to express themselves, can’t stop it - Noah
● Isaac: Anyone could become a terrorist if they wanted to
● Bethany: There will always be hate towards someone or towards a government or a
religion and people are going to fight it. Even if we reduce terrorism it will still be there
even if it is weaker. It will never be stopped.
● Brea: There are so many different terrorist groups, it is hard to put out blame. According
to theconversation.com over 60% of all attacks since 1970 worldwide cannot be
assigned to a terrorist group
● Austin: The media will never stop covering terrorism, therefore terrorist groups will
always be getting the attention they want and strive to get
● Brandon:Terrorists are motivated by some type of extremist ideology, whether it be
religious or political. Social Media allows these groups to convey their message with
others in order to gain recruits, and inspire others to attack
 ● Dez: As the world evolves so does terrorism there will be new ways for terrorist to attack
there targets.
● Nate: In most cases citizens can not stop terrorist acts -Nate
● Nate: Terrorists come from different backgrounds and cultures making it hard to control
some of them
● Garrett: The way we think about terrorism now is only stoppable by imprisoning or killing
anyone suspected of having anything to do with a terrorist group, but then the
government becomes terrorists by oppressing its people.

Rebuttal: Opposition’s Stance- Terrorism can be stopped

● According to CNN.com Places like Britain are freeing up the police to investigate the
network that surrounds terrorism
● Brandon: Some people argue that increasing border security will prevent terrorism,
however increased border security will not stop terrorists that already preside within the
country
● Brandon: Many people think that another way to stop terror attacks is to cut off their
resources. This would be very difficult to do, because there are so many different places
were terrorist organizations can obtain resources such as money, weapons, and other
crucial supplies. How can you cut off these sources?
● Following the 9/11 attacks the US declared a National Emergency, suspending certain
provisions that limit the size of the military and enable things like wiretaps, surveillance,
and search of business records
● According to Thethirdway.org we can stop local terrorists attacks by cutting
communication off with middle eastern countries through social media but there is
always a way around social media such as other forms of communication - Noah
● Brea: According to ourworldindata.org, after 2014 the number of terrorist attacks have
decreased, but are still very high
● Dez:I feel like if we make the punishment higher than what it is less people would be
terrorist.k,
● Ethan: According to the LA Times, since terrorism is an ideology, it cannot be
destroyed, but it can be contained and limited. Sources say that many governments are
limiting to spread of terrorism based on technology. They have called upon app creators
to create apps that have capabilities to let the government monitor activity on the app.
British Prime Minister Theresa May says this, “We cannot allow this ideology the safe
space it needs to breed.” But what about groups that don’t use technology?

Works Cited:
● Jenkins, Simon. “If We Overreact to This Attack on Paris Then Terrorism Will 'Just Never
End' | Simon Jenkins.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 21 Apr. 2017,
 www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/21/overreact-paris-attack-terrorism-just-
never-end.
● “Information on More than 170,000 Terrorist Attacks.” Global Terrorism Database,
www.start.umd.edu/gtd/.
● Penny, Laudie. “Of Course We Could Do More to Stop Terrorism – If We're Willing to
Live in a Police State.” Of Course We Could Do More to Stop Terrorism – If We’Re
Willing to Live in a Police State, New Statesman, 24 May 2017,
www.newstatesman.com/2017/05/course-we-could-do-more-stop-terrorism-if-we-re-
willing-live-police-state.
● Russell, Jonathan. “What Can Governments Do to Stop Terror?” CNN, Cable News
Network, 24 May 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/opinions/what-approach-should-
governments-take-russell-opinion/index.html.
● “The Plan to Combat Terrorism.” – Third Way, www.thirdway.org/report/the-plan-to-
combat-terrorism.
● “Terrorism.” Our World in Data, ourworldindata.org/terrorism.
● “How to Stop Terrorism: EU Measures Explained (Infographic) .” How to Stop Terrorism:
EU Measures Explained (Infographic) | News | European Parliament,
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/security/20180316STO99922/how-to-stop-
terrorism-eu-measures-explained-infographic.
● https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/08/tougher-policing-wont-end-
terror-attacks-britain